The voting mechanism of the Eurovision Song Contest has been changed

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced a series of important updates to the voting framework aimed at strengthening trust, transparency and public engagement regarding the Eurovision Song Contest which will be held next year at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday 12th, Thursday 14th and Saturday 16th May 2026.

The changes follow extensive consultation with EBU members following the 2025 edition. An independent consultant, commissioned by the EBU Board of Directors, conducted an in-depth analysis of participation, working closely with the Directors General of participating broadcasters and other global event organisers. Their recommendations, in line with feedback from the Heads of Delegation, inspired measures to further strengthen the voting framework of the Eurovision Song Contest.

“We listened and we acted,” said Martin Green, CBE, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest. “The neutrality and integrity of the Eurovision Song Contest are of paramount importance to the EBU, its members and all our audiences. It is essential that the fairness of the Eurovision Song Contest is protected at all times. We are taking clear and decisive measures to ensure that the Eurovision Song Contest remains a celebration of music and unity. The Contest should remain a neutral space and must not be exploited. In addition to the changes we are announcing today, we will also strengthen enforcement of our existing rules to prevent any misuse of the Competition, for example through song lyrics or stage design. And we will work closely with Members to ensure they fully understand and are responsible for adhering to the rules and values that define the Song Competition.”

Below are the main changes for the 2026 edition.

1. Clearer rules on promotion

   The competition’s Voting Instructions and Code of Conduct, which all participating broadcasters must comply with, are being strengthened to further protect the Competition from attempts to unfairly influence voting. The updated Voting Instructions support appropriate promotion of artists and their songs (which is an integral part of the professional music industry), but “discourage disproportionate promotional campaigns… particularly when undertaken or supported by third parties, including governments or government agencies.” Participating broadcasters and artists are not permitted to actively engage in, facilitate or contribute to third party promotional campaigns that could influence the outcome of the vote and, as outlined in the updated Code of Conduct, any attempts to unduly influence the results will result in sanctions.

   2. Reduction of the maximum number of votes

   As part of the annual review of the voting system, changes have been made to the system to support public participation. For the 2026 Contest, the maximum number of votes per payment method (online, SMS and phone call) will be reduced from 20 to 10. Fans will be actively encouraged to share their support across multiple entries.

   3. Expansion of the 50/50 vote return for semi-finals and juries

   Professional juries made up of music experts will return to the semi-finals for the first time since 2022, creating an approximately 50/50 split between jury and audience votes, as in the Grand Final*. This change is intended to encourage optimal musical balance and diversity in the songs that qualify for the Final, ensuring that high-quality works with broad artistic merit are recognized alongside those with great popular appeal. The number of jurors will increase from 5 to 7 and the range of professional backgrounds from which jurors can be chosen will be expanded to include music journalists and critics, music teachers, creative professionals such as choreographers and theater directors and experienced personalities from the music industry. To appeal to a younger audience, each jury will now include at least two jurors aged between 18 and 25. All jurors will be required to sign a formal declaration confirming that they will vote independently and impartially, that they will not coordinate with other jurors before the Competition and that they will be careful about their use of social media, i.e. they will not share their preferences online before the conclusion of the Competition.

   4. Improved technical guarantees

   In addition to these improvements, the EBU will continue to work closely with its voting partner Once to expand the Contest’s advanced security systems, which detect and prevent fraudulent or coordinated voting activity, and strengthen monitoring of suspicious schemes to maintain public confidence in the voting results. “These measures are designed to keep the focus on what it deserves: music, creativity and connection,” added Martin Green. “While we are confident that the 2025 edition has produced a good and solid result, these changes will help provide greater assurance and increase engagement, so that fans can be confident that every vote counts and every voice is heard. The Eurovision Song Contest must always remain a place where music is at the center of attention and where we continue to be truly united by music.”

All updates have been approved by the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group, the event’s governing body representing all participating broadcasters. Their impact will be monitored and reviewed after the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 to suggest further improvements. Members meeting at the EBU General Assembly in early December will be invited to evaluate this package of measures and safeguards and decide whether they are sufficient to address their concerns, without having to vote on participation. After the General Assembly, the EBU will work with members to confirm participation in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The full list of broadcasters participating in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will therefore be released before Christmas.